Good morning everyone.....today is Friday and a "Low Ops Day" so I managed to sleep in a little bit and have a slow joe (coffee). I had a busy week as I was back down south in Kandahar with our Ambassador for a couple of events. This series of pictures is taken at the Kandahar University where the Ambassador, the RoCK (Representative of Canada in Kandahar) and Governor Wesa had a ground breaking ceremony for a new building Canada is funding.The University provides programs such as Medicine, Agriculture and Education. The new building Canada is providing support for is a Agricultural lab. The University has quite extensive grounds and in the one picture, you can see how many buildings the University has. All of the white three story buildings belong to the University and are the classrooms as well as the dormitories for the students...which of course are all men.
I just had to take the picture of the one ANP with his white leather gloves, complete with chrome studs! It is such a challenge to try and get the ANP not to "Jingle up" their uniform and kit. You can't quite pick it out in the picture but he has a small flower sticking out of the end of the barrel. These poor guys have absolutely nothing, so when they do get something of value, they want to dress it up. If you think of young men back home, they all have clothes, cars, their own rooms, etc. , to express their own personality...these guys have nothing.
I am always struck by how harsh the environment is. You can see how dusty and dirty everything is. Add to this incredible heat, pollution, poverty and violence. It is truly speaks to the determination and tenacity of the Afghan people. Perhaps some of the students rioting in London should come to Kanadahar and apply to Kandahar University.
Great Blog Son.........even tho it is winter here and everything has more or less died outside, except for the evergreen, it is still greener looking than the pictures......It all looks so dry....Your last comment says it all. We have forgotten what is considered a right is really a priviledge.........just checked out the lot, looking good.....they have built a playground up behind where I said was a nice walking path.......Your Grandchildren will enjoy the playground.........love you lots.....Mum and Dad
ReplyDeleteNicely put Dave
ReplyDeleteHopefully this is your last blog before your back home. You should have no trouble adapting to the snow of Kelowna?
To quote one of the great minds of our generation, Mr Basil Fawlty; "The Germans are coming". Seriously Michelle is picking them up from the airpost after about 4 weeks in New Zealand. (3 weeks to many I reckon)
We will introduce them to your blog.
It was nice to see that Debra can be introduced as "Spudley" on formal occasions and Spud when its not formal.
Hello Dave , hope you have a safe flight home and enjoy your Christmas with your family...a vacation you surely deserve.
ReplyDeleteAlso , always reading your blogs, and the pictures put that special touch to see a little of whats going on in your travels.